Deforestation.

Deforestation increases by 100 times the cost of water treatment

In locations with degraded vegetation is necessary to use coagulants , brokers pH , fluoride , oxidizers , sanitizers , algaecides and other endearing process

" In areas with riparian forest [ adjacent to watercourses ] well protected , just put a few drops of chlorine per liter and get good quality for drinking water. Already in locations with degraded vegetation , such as Low Cotia system [ Cotia River watershed of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo ] , we need to use coagulants , brokers pH , fluoride , oxidizers , sanitizers , algaecides and substances to remove the taste and odor. All the filtering service provided by the forest needs to be replaced by an artificial system and the cost is only £ 2 to £ 3 per thousand cubic meters to $ 200 to R $ 300 . This account needs to be related to the costs of deforestation "said Tundisi .

When the vegetation cover in the basin is adequate - and that includes not only the riparian forests as well as forests of wetlands and other native vegetation mosaics - the evapotranspiration rate is higher , ie , a larger amount of water returns to the atmosphere and favors the precipitation .

Furthermore , he explained Tundisi the flow of rainwater occurs more slowly , reducing the erosive process . Some of the water seeps into the soil through the roots and trunks , which act as biofilters , recharges aquifers and ensures the sustainability of water sources .

" In bare soils , the process of draining rainwater occurs much more quickly and there is a considerable loss from the soil surface , that target water bodies . This organic solids completely alters the chemical characteristics of water, both surface and underground , "explained Tundisi .

According to the researcher , the change in the chemical composition of water is even more pronounced when there is livestock or use of fertilizers and pesticides on the banks of rivers . There is an increase in turbidity and the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus , heavy metals and other contaminants - strongly impacting the aquatic biota .

Tundisi recalled that , in addition to ensuring water for human consumption , aquatic ecosystems offer a number of other services of great economic importance , such as hydropower generation , irrigation , transportation ( waterway ) , tourism , recreation and fishing .

The measurement of the value of ecosystem services is the goal of the project " Ecological long-term research in the watersheds of Itaqueri and Wolf rivers and dam HPP Carlos Botelho , Ityrapina , SP , Brazil ( LTER ) " , coordinated by Tundisi supported by FAPESP and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development ( CNPq ) .

" They are strategic and critical to the development of the State of São Paulo. Your opinion is of fundamental importance for the implementation of projects for green economies , emphasizing the preservation of vegetation structures and wetlands , " he said.

In the second lecture of the meeting, Maria Victoria Ramos Ballester , a researcher at the University of São Paulo ( USP ) Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA ) , presented studies in Amazonia supported by FAPESP which revealed the importance of rivers in the carbon balance in the Amazon Basin , including the forest and soils . Part of the results was published in an article published in the journal Nature .

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Why is important? Forests cover 31% of the land area on our planet. They produce vital oxygen and provide homes for people and wildlife. Many of the world’s most threatened and endangered animals live in forests, and 1.6 billion people rely on benefits forests offer, including food, fresh water, clothing, traditional medicine and shelter. Deforestation comes in many forms, including fires, clear-cutting for agriculture, ranching and development What is deforestation? Deforestation is the process whereby natural forests are cleared through logging and/or burning, either to use the timber or to replace the area for alternative uses. • Reduced biodiversity: • Release of greenhouse gas emissions: Deforestation causes 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. • Disrupted water cycles: As a result of deforestation, trees no longer evaporate groundwater, which can cause the local climate to be much drier. • Increased soil erosion: Deforestation accelerates rates of soil erosion, by increasing runoff and reducing the protection of the soil from tree litter. • Millions of people rely directly on forests, through small-scale agriculture, hunting and gathering, and by harvesting forest products such as rubber. Deforestation continues to pose severe social problems, sometimes leading to violent conflict.

Source:http://exame.abril.com.br/tecnologia/noticias/desmatamento-eleva-em-100-vezes-custo-do-tratamento-da-agua